Grout around tub from years ago; has mold, crack, & needs repair.

H.G.

8 years ago

The grout has mold in some parts and turned pink around the tub. I'm not sure why our initial contractor chose grout, but I did remember that the space around the tub was quite deep, considering the grout has a height of about 3/4 of an inch. I recalled he needed to use a lot of product to fill the space in. Now, however, it's turned pink, has some mold residue that I unwittedly cleaned with white distilled vinegar (didn't do enough research), and I'll probably have to regrout the tiles after that cleaning disaster eating away at the grout. However, I learned that change of planes need to be in caulk. My concern is how deep that grout went and I know that having caulk on top of grout is a bad idea. I don't want the mold situation getting any worse and I want to take preventative measures here on. What should I do from here on, as I can't hire another contractor? I might have to do it myself.

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Comments (5)

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Joseph Corlett, LLC
8 years ago
The good news is it's a big fat grout joint making it relatively easy to remove. Try tapping it out with a stiff scraper or chisel. Cut the end of a color matched 100% silicone caulk tube large and pump the void full after cleaning with acetone. Spray it with Windex and tool the silicone with a wetted finger. No masking tape, please.
H.G. thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
H.G.
Original Author
8 years ago
Hey Joseph. Should I be concerned that, from what I remember, it's a pretty deep grout joint? Last thing I want is the bathtub to suddenly come falling down, not that I know how it's installed in the first place.
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millworkman
8 years ago
Foam backer rod before caulk if they are that large. And if grout is what is holding the tub in place, lol, you have more to worry about than the grout.........
H.G. thanked millworkman
H.G.
Original Author
8 years ago
It's held up for a good 4-8 years so I don't think it's grout holding the tub in place. Then again, I wouldn't know because I wasn't there for the installation.
MongoCT
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
If the grout joint has a consistent height around the tub of 3/4", and alternative to a huge caulk joint could be to use something like a tile trim or liner piece to fill most of the gap. There are certainly restrictions going that route, ie, there might not be a proper material in the back of the gap to bond the liner to.

If you do go the "all caulk route", look at backer rod as millworkman suggested. Backer rod is a foam rope that comes in different diameters. Backer rod gets stuffed into the gap to act as a filler for the deepest part of the gap. It greatly improves the performance of caulks when they are used in large- or deep-gap situations, as a large slug of caulk. If you filled a large gap with a single large slug of caulk, as the caulk cures and shrinks, internal shrinkage can cause the caulk to pull away from the edges, or even crack in the middle of the joint.

Backer rod allows a Thicker depth of caulk at the edges where you need adhesion, and a thinner depth of caulk in the middle of the joint where you need flexibility.
H.G. thanked MongoCT

Grout around tub from years ago; has mold, crack, & needs repair.

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Joseph Corlett, LLC

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Grout around tub from years ago; has mold, crack, & needs repair.

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Joseph Corlett, LLC

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